This afternoon, through a press release on their website, Boy Scouts of America (BSA) announced they would be accepting girls into their membership starting in their 2018 program year. While we support girls and their families having a variety of options and activities, we disagree with this decision and stand firm knowing that Girl Scouts is the best leadership experience for girls in the world — because girls are at the center of everything we do. Girl Scouting’s more than 100-year legacy of research, experience, and results prove the success of our focus exclusively on girls. Our approach to developing a pipeline of strong, confident girls and women with amazing leadership skills originates from our expertise knowing the unique needs of girls and understanding the gender gaps that still exist in nearly every facet of business and society.
Research shows that girls want and thrive in all-girl, girl-led, and girl-friendly environments where their specific needs are addressed. Everything we do at Girl Scouts—from holding troop meetings to selling cookies to camping to exploring STEM—is safe, girl-led, and girl-focused. No other program in the world can do what we do for girls.
Traveling around the world, competing in robotics tournaments, and earning the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award for incredible Take Action projects that make a profound and lasting impact locally and internationally are just a few of the amazing opportunities available for girls in Girl Scouting.
Today, noting that it is International Day of the Girl, Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys affirms with confidence that it will remain, as ever, committed to the unique needs of girls. We are looking positively toward the future for girls and our organization. We want to thank our members and supporters for making the best choice for girls by providing them the opportunity to participate in a world-wide movement For Girls. By Girls. All Girls.